Filling Up Is Hard to Do

Manhattan Drivers Look Far and Wide for Gas as Developers Snap Up Stations

By

Josh Barbanel

Updated Nov. 21, 2013 9:44 pm ET

In many affluent parts of Manhattan, the gas station is going the way of the neighborhood shoemaker or butcher, as operators sell out one-by-one to real-estate developers.

A decade ago, 33 gas stations were listed as in business in Manhattan south of 96th Street, according to city records. Today, 11 remain, with two of those scheduled to close next year and one on the market.